Column : A time to heal

After the destructive policy incoherence in 2012 and the self-inflicted macro pain, the coming year is likely to be slightly better for the Indian economy. The impact of the favourable policy actions since September on the real economy has been negligible. This should not be surprising. Financial markets are quick to discount future outcomes but on-the-ground reality takes longer to respond to the improvement in sentiment.

A low-level stabilisation in economic activity is already palpable. This should give way to marginal improvement in GDP growth, which is poised to improve to 6-6.5% in 2013-14 from an estimated 5.5% in 2012-13. Policy implementation remains the key, and the ball is very much in the government’s court: it needs to ensure that the constant drip of favourable sound bites is followed through with credible and concrete policy actions.

An important issue for 2013 will be whether the investment cycle turns around and by how much. To be sure, there is little convincing evidence of such a turnaround yet but the recent Cabinet sign-off on the Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI), a high-powered body led by the Prime Minister to fast-track delayed projects, is a positive step. The ground-level success will be affected by state-specific issues but the CCI is still a welcome move to track project delays for timely action. However, the CCI should not be thought of as a panacea for all that is

... contd.